MLP FIM Fan-Fiction: Starting from Scratch

Chapter 13

After repeating the process with Princess Luna and safely storing the second jar in a different pocket, the Royal Sisters gave Aaron time to wash up and get changed as they informed Starlight, Twilight, and Discord, who had stopped by with Fluttershy to check in on AppleJack.

Aaron then hurried to the main hall with his luggage in magical tow as Starlight and Twilight galloped down the other side, sending him spinning. The suitcase that Luna packed held the basic tools he used, basic necessities, clothes, and spare metal. Needless to say, it was heavy. It fell to the floor with a loud, heavy thud.
"Ahh, geez!" he complained as hauled his luggage up out of the floor, repaired the floor with a special enchanted glue, and resumed down the hall, heading for the entrance.

* * *

Discord was waiting for him, looking disgruntled by the fact that he had to tag along. "Morning, Discord!" Aaron called, levitating the heavy suitcase again.

Discord's mood seemed to brighten some when he got a few yards closer, "Aaron, you look pretty good for collapsing at the castle doors last night!"

"What can I say? Fighting with a large hoard of Timber Wolves and flinging a centaur into next Tuesday really takes stamina," Aaron replied, grinning widely.

Discord laughed hard at the human's description of how hard he slapped Tirek, "HAhahah - OHH That is a riot! I need to keep that phrase in mind next time I cross paths with Chrysalis!"

"If you want to go that far, try this phrase:" Aaron snickered as he whispered something into Discord's ear, causing the draconequus to lose his breath and concentration so badly, that he fell to the floor, laughing and rolling around like a madman.

Fluttershy, Starlight, and Twilight arrived to see this as it happened. Fluttershy had a confused look on her face while Starlight and Twilight exchanged looks, as if saying, What in the world happened here??

CRACCKK! Discord had laughed so hard and doubled over so bad that he ended up folded in half.

"Oh dear," Aaron sighed, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." He used his magic to flip Discord over, and used the suitcase as a wedge. POP! After pulling on both ends of Discord's body, his spine realigned itself.

Discord stood up and stretched his back out, "I seriously think you fixed one of my pulled muscles in my back; thanks for that!"

"Well, we should probably get to the Crystal Empire now," Starlight suggested, "The sooner, the better."

"Don't worry, I'll handle that, considering how heavy Aaron's luggage is," Discord volunteered, and with a snap, they all appeared in front of the Crystal Empire Train Station entrance. Royal Guards pointed their weapons at Aaron, which was understandable, given his abnormal look and skeletal build.

"Stand down, Gentle-colts," Twilight ordered as she pulled a paper from her saddle bag, "A note from Princess Celestia."

"How do we know you are who you say you are?" the guard asked.

"Allow me," Aaron replied, summoning a materialized magic hammer, and swung it quickly, but giving Twilight and Starlight just enough time to pull up defensive barriers.

"Sorry about that, Miss Sparkle, Miss Glimmer," Aaron apologized, "But in this case, I thought that actions would speak louder than words."

"You're all verified, but was that really necessary?" another guard asked, "We can't afford to be sending anypony to the hospital right now."

"Well, words of reason alone wouldn't have given you all the reassurance you need, so you heard my sister; stand down."

Discord, Starlight, Twilight, and Aaron turned to see a stallion with a white coat, blue mane and tail, and a superior rank over the guards. "Shining Armor!" Twilight called, setting down her things to make her way over to him.

Aaron's visor slid into place, and he used his Infra-red filter to scan Shining Armor, followed by his recently aquired True Sight filter. No obvious magic was active, and Shining Armor's Infra-red scan matched up. Starlight and Discord noticed his focus.

"What's up?" Starlight asked, "You're not one to usually be so paranoid."

Aaron got on on knee to lower his voice, "Historical archives mentioned that Princess Cadence was imprisoned and replaced by the Changeling Queen. I ran a few scans on Shining Armor to ensure that we're talking to the real one. We're clear."

Shining Armor walked up to Discord, "An unexpected pleasure to see you both, Discord and Starlight. And you are?"

Aaron dipped his head in respect as he introduced himself, "Aaron Deltian, sir. Princess Celestia might have mentioned me in the letter to your wife."

"Yes, the human currently living in Ponyville," Shining Armor confirmed, "You seem awfully calm for being in an area of recent Changeling activity."

"I have means of sniffing out imposters," Aaron explained, "However, I believe that we should probably head for the castle, considering the recently mentioned activity. Discord, would you mind?"

Discord knew what Aaron was saying; there could be eyes and ears against us out here.

"Will do,"  Discord replied, all too eager to get out the prying eyes of the public, "Please keep your heads, tails, arms, hands, legs, feet, hooves, and luggage near the draconequus during the teleportation process."

* * *

The group of travelers appeared at the edge of the castle's property boundaries, and Princess Cadence, a unicorn that Starlight recognized, and a creature similar to the textbook description of a Changeling waited for their arrival.

"Thorax, any of your brethren in the group?" the pink alicorn asked.

"Can't say for certain about the strange creature, but Discord, Shining Armor, Starlight and Twilight are fine," the Changeling analyzed. Aaron sighed in frustration.

"I've seen him in action, and he doesn't move like the rest of us, or a Hive Changeling, for that matter," Shining Armor commented.

"Princess Celestia told me that he would have two very precious items that belonged to the Royal Sisters as evidence of his authenticity," Princess Cadence stated.

Aaron pulled open one side of his cloak and reached into it to pull Celestia's stored magic out of the pocket part way, returned it, and did the same thing with Luna's contained magic.

Princess Cadence's eyes widened, then she instructed her visitors, "Alright, you four come on in; we've got quite a bit to discuss."